As one of National Audubon Society’s largest state programs, Audubon Florida plays a critical role in helping to meet the conservation priorities of the NAS Strategic Plan in the Atlantic Flyway. Working closely with the Florida Audubon Society (FAS), an independent state-based conservation organization, Audubon Florida uses birdlife science to measure ecosystem health and to guide strategic priorities, advocates for the protection of land, water, and wildlife, promotes the stewardship of public land, protects the Everglades and coastal bird habitats, and empowers individuals to care and advocate for their natural resources and the environment.

Audubon Florida is also a key collaborator with Audubon state programs in the Mississippi and Central Flyways that share the Gulf of Mexico, contributing to larger Coastal strategy goals for the organization and working hard to restore the Gulf. Audubon Florida’s network is one of its most important and unique strengths, with 68,000 members and supporters statewide, as well as strategic partnerships with 45 affiliated Florida chapters. The program has an annual budget of $7 million, a staff of 62 across the state, two major center-sanctuaries and over 58,000 acres under land management.

Audubon seeks a dynamic leader to serve as the Vice President & Executive Director of Audubon Florida, leading the organization to its next level of conservation and fiscal success. The leader will build on Audubon’s rich history of conservation and expand Audubon Florida’s contributions to conservation across Florida and throughout the Atlantic Flyway. The Vice President & Executive Director will exercise broad leadership and management responsibility in developing statewide conservation strategies, initiatives, and public programming. This will include working closely with staff, Florida Audubon Society’s Board of Directors and Audubon’s key national conservation leaders to continue to develop the state program in tandem with strategic regional and national priorities, including Audubon Florida’s evolving role within the Atlantic Flyway. The Vice President and Executive Director will also work closely and collaboratively with the Florida Audubon Society to steward assets, resources, and projects and continue the great partnership and conservation legacy in place.

The Executive Director will report to a joint management committee comprised of representatives from both National Audubon Society and Florida Audubon Society and may be based in Miami, Tallahassee or another agreeable location in the state of Florida.

Essential Functions

Conservation Strategy Development

Develop strategic goals and initiatives aligned with Audubon’s overall conservation goals and strategies that result in the organization’s increased statewide capacity to achieve the conservation of priority birds and their habitats. Priorities include:

Working with the state’s largest grassroots network to build an annual state policy agenda to drive protections for birds and their habitats across the state;

Ambitious ecosystem and water restoration plans for America’s Everglades and Lake Okeechobee;

Engaging in community-based science, conservation, engagement and advocacy around important conservation matters such as water;

Coastal habitat conservation along Florida’s beaches and shores in critical areas such as Gulf of Mexico and greater Tampa Bay area;

Important Bird Areas (IBAs) protection throughout the state, including across protected waterways; and

In conjunction with senior management, exploring opportunities and the feasibility of expanding Audubon’s conservation footprint along the Atlantic Coast and in the Atlantic Flyway.

Organizational Leadership

Provide leadership, management, and mentoring to staff while preserving open communication and recognizing the value of the management team.

Manage the day-to-day operations of the state office, including setting financial and programmatic goals, analyzing results, and taking corrective actions, in close collaboration with Florida’s staff; ensure that all Audubon financial standards, operating policies, programmatic commitments, and legal requirements are met.

Direct resources on the most critical, high-leverage projects and strategies, including policy development and public engagement, focused on Florida’s population centers.

Leverage the impact of Audubon Florida’s Centers and Sanctuaries to achieve state and Atlantic Flyway goals.

Fundraising and External Relations

Represent Audubon Florida throughout the state and raise its profile and visibility to funders, partners, policymakers, and the public.

Play a key role in fundraising and ensure Audubon Florida’s ability to cultivate and solicit major donors, foundations, corporations and government agencies to significantly increase contributions.

Play an active role in helping to promote fundraising for regional priority projects across the Atlantic Flyway working with other state executive directors, the program managers and other supporting staff.

Collaborate with other Audubon state programs and national Development staff on donor strategies under the One Audubon approach to members and donors.

Stakeholder Relations

Work closely with the Audubon Florida Board of Directors and FAS to support Audubon’s efforts to further the development of a strong statewide organization through fundraising, program development, and conservation advocacy.

Work closely with, support and provide guidance to the Chapters in Florida to expand Audubon’s capacity for on-the-ground conservation and education at scale. Work to strengthen the statewide presence of Audubon, and support these organizations in their local efforts.

Prioritize engagement and activation of Florida’s diverse population communities in the Audubon movement, including chapter leadership, state board participation, staffing, volunteers, program participation, and partnerships across the state.

Work with government departments and non-governmental organizations to promote and prioritize bird science and habitat conservation.

Qualifications and Experience

Substantial and progressively responsible professional experience, including 3+ years as an enterprise executive with accountability over multiple programs and/or regions.

Experience in the field of conservation; ideally knowledge of how conservation work is advanced in Florida, including knowledge of key conservation leaders.

Excellent and persuasive communication skills, both written and verbal, including substantial public speaking experience, and the ability to effectively represent Audubon Florida to its members, state and federal elected officials, donors, and chapter leaders, as well as in traditional and social media.

Deep knowledge of Florida’s political and demographic landscape with broad connections to partners and the philanthropic community strongly desired.

Knowledge and appreciation of, as well as connection, to Florida and its environment, conservation and political history, and the role of science in developing bird conservation strategies.

An array of experience in public policy development and advocacy, campaigns, lobbying, and/or involvement in the state legislature and/or in working with members of Congress.

Demonstrated experience overseeing complex or multiple projects through to success, including meeting financial goals, project deadlines, and coordinating the work of key staff and partners, in organizations of similar or greater size than Audubon Florida.

Demonstrated success in fundraising; experience with major donors, foundations, corporations, and government funders.

Demonstrated commitment to creating an equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment; ability to build and lead a diverse team of staff, board members and supporters.

Strong leadership skills, with an entrepreneurial spirit and strong business and management skills; demonstrated ability to inspire and motivate staff, board members, volunteers, donors, and potential partners a must.

Outstanding interpersonal skills, judgment, and a demonstrated ability to collaborate and build coalitions with a wide range of individuals and organizations at the local, regional, and national levels.

Tech-savvy, including proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, budgeting systems and donor databases, with a strong preference for experience with Salesforce. Comfort with and interest in leveraging technology to maximize conservation impact and network engagement.

Willingness and ability to travel routinely throughout the state and nationally, as required.

A strong commitment to the mission, values, and programs of the National Audubon Society and Audubon Florida.